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Projected Bonus Increases by Sector
A comparison of estimated year-end bonus growth across major financial sectors compared to 2022/previous levels.
Primary Sources
Investment banks are back on top as private equity loses its grip on ...
Investment banks are back on top as private equity loses its grip on Wall Street's biggest paydays By Alice Tecotzky You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email. A report from compensation consultancy Johnson Associates found that investment bankers could see the biggest bonus bump. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images 2026-05-07T10:00:01.230Z Big banks are expected to impress with year-end bonuses this year, according to a new report. Investment bankers are expected to see the 10% bonus bumps, compared to up to 5% at PE firms. AI is threatening to upend junior bankers' career pipelines, even as the broader banks excel. After years in private equity's shadow, Wall Street's biggest banks are reclaiming their status as some of finance's top-paying employers. A new report from compensation consultancy Johnson Associates found that major banks are projected to increase bonuses by 39% from 2022 levels, outpacing wealth management and hedge funds, which are expected to increase bonuses by 29% and 24%, respectively. Alan Johnson, the firm's founder, said that banks' M&A, equity underwriting, and trading units are doing particularly well.The big banks' luster marks a change from a few years ago, when private equity firms were considered the most lucrative places to work, Johnson said. Now, Johnson Associates expects private equity bonuses to be flat or rise just 5% compared to last year, as fundraising is down and companies stay private for longer."One of the stars for a long time was private equity," Johnson said. "The big compensation opportunities, which come through carried interest, have been delayed, or in some cases, may never happen. They were clearly the lead, and now banks and others have kind of caught up some or all the way."Private credit could also see bonuses decline between 2.5% to 7.5%, according to the report, amid high-profile redemption requests and concerns about AI affecting portfolio companies. The six biggest Wall Street banks posted strong first-quarter earnings last month, reporting a combined $47.3 billion in revenue."The big banks have been kind of out of favor for a decade or more, in terms of being a place to work or comp opportunities," he said.Investment and commercial bankers are projected to see a 10% bump in bonuses compared to the record 2025 payouts, according to the report, driven by a healthy M&A pipeline and anticipated IPOs. Though the report noted that ye...
Private equity - Financial Times
Extensive coverage of private equity groups. The latest news and analysis on the world's leading PE firms, including Blackstone, KKR, EQT, Warburg Pincus and more.
Global Private Equity News and Trends - PitchBook
PitchBook is the leading source for private equity news, analysis, trends and reports with daily updates on the private equity market. Start reading today!
Private Equity - Barron's
Private Equity's Push for Small Investors Is 'Scandalous,' Says Chris Davis The value maven decried high fees, high leverage, and dangerous lockups.
